Thousands of gun rights advocates swarmed the Capitol on Thursday, cheering as a parade of lawmakers who oppose New York’s new gun control law lauded the Second Amendment and blasted the new measure’s backers.

“This is probably one of the most egregious acts by government I’ve seen defying our nation’s history,” said Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, R-Canandaigua. “It’s time to repeal this law.”

“I have never seen a crowd this big,” said Sen. John Bonacic, a Republican from the Hudson Valley. “You inspire me to fight on.”

Called the NY SAFE Act by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, its principal supporter, the gun control measure broadened the definition of banned assault weapons and made magazines containing more than seven bullets unlawful. It also increased penalties for illegal gun possession, reduced public access to gun permit information and allowed mental health professionals to report concerns about a gun-owning patient who might be at risk of harming himself or others.